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TTC fare hike hurts the poor most

Readers scold Mayor John Tory, centre, for his decision to break an election promise not to raise TTC fares. (David Cooper / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Sat., Jan. 24, 2015

Re: Watch those promises, Editorial Jan. 21

Re: A lot hiding in the good-news headlines of Tory’s budget, Jan. 21

Re: Toronto could be $200M richer, Opinion Jan. 20

Watch those promises, Editorial Jan. 21

It is heartening to hear our new mayor talking about the urgent need to address poverty and homelessness in Toronto. However, this talk is directly contradicted by a new proposal to (yet again) raise TTC fares – an increase that will disproportionately impact our city’s poorest residents who depend on public transit for their transportation needs.

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It is deemed acceptable that TTC fare increases should continue to outpace inflation, but the idea that TTC revenues could be topped up by a slightly-above-inflation property tax increase is simply off the table. This despite the fact that Torontonians’ property tax burden as a share of household income is lower than almost any other city in Ontario – a particular bargain considering the quality and breadth of services we receive.

If we are serious about addressing poverty in this city, we can’t continue to prioritize property owners over transit riders.

Sascha Garrey, Toronto

Mayor John Tory’s announcement regarding TTC fares is at best a mixed blessing. I am sure that many would agree that it is a good thing for families to be able to travel more freely because their young children can ride free. For some families this will be a welcome help.

However, raising the fares for all others proves again that priorities are askew. As much as I want to see families helped, the greater priority right now surely must be those whose very survival can be tied to TTC transportation.

For the marginally housed, and especially for the homeless, the day’s meal and the night’s shelter can very well be tied to that TTC token. Raising the cost even a little simply contributes to the already intolerable situation of inadequate resources in the inner suburbs for those in great need.

The problems associated with making TTC travel more accessible for those in need may very well be onerous but it is to this issue that the TTC and City Hall must turn their attention. This is not just a quality of life issue but for too many it is a survival issue.

Rev. Dr. John Stephenson, Agincourt

Shame on Mayor John Tory for backtracking on a public transit fare freeze when he was out hustling for votes. A TTC adult monthly pass will rise from $133.75 to $141.50. This is a rip-off compared to the fare of $82 in Montreal, whose transit system is comparable to Toronto’s, and certainly compared to the fare of $112 in New York, whose bus and subway system is far larger than Toronto’s.

The poor people, who must rely on public transportation, are the ones getting screwed.

Jacob Mendlovic, Toronto

I applaud the proposed transit improvements tabled in the budget, especially the increased bus service. However, as a Metropass user, condo owner and someone without children, why does it feel that I am being dinged in multiple ways?

Why are private automobiles not paying their own user fees for usage of public right-of-ways? Revenue sources for this public service and resource should be realigned to benefit those who use the system, not penalize them.

To clarify, most residents likely would not mind paying more for transit if the services are value for money. Improvements to transit under the current mayor are just tinkering at the edges, such as back-door boarding and GO train pilot projects between Exhibition-Union-Danforth stations.

Want to dramatically improve transit efficiency and reduce the dreaded short-turn? Give TTC vehicles priority at intersections and on major downtown surface routes – service would improve overnight with little financial cost.

But, these types of major improvements have been brushed aside. Focusing on automobile traffic flow improvements during rush-hour, it feels as if the philosophy begun under the previous municipal administration continues under the leadership of the current mayor – just without the drama.

Tero Konttinen, Toronto

John Tory’s first budget is bold and progressive. He campaigned on transit and traffic issues and much of the new spending addresses both. He should not be criticized for breaking his campaign promise to freeze TTC fares for a year. It’s a promise that should have prevented him from being elected in the first place. Anyone who believed that there wouldn’t be a nominal fare increase this year is foolish and naïve.

The criticism should be leveled around the band-aid of only adding 181 homeless shelter beds at a cost of $3 million while throwing $443 million at the Gardiner repairs. That’s like tossing a loonie into a change cup in front of Seaton House and thinking you’ve done your good deed for the day.

Perhaps $440 million for the Gardiner, but $6 million and 400 beds for the homeless would have had a noticeable effect. It would have made no difference to one problem and all the difference to the other.

Rob Cowan, Toronto

I am disappointed in Mayor Tory’s support for the Scarborough subway’s extension. In my opinion, it is a waste of taxpayers’ money for the idiocy of having a three-stop extension benefiting the locals when the province’s monetary support of the LRT would cost us nothing.

The cost of this fiasco would be better spent on affordable housing, day care or adding to help improve the lives of the majority of Torontonians.

As the mayor of our city, we look to him to make the right decisions for all of us. He is doing a great job so far. He shouldn’t spoil it by succumbing to the wishes of a few.

Pearl Silver, Toronto

Breaking an election promise is one thing though accepting reality and improving public transit is something that needs to be done.

Let’s give the mayor a chance and monitor the changes. As long as the fare increase is spent on necessary upgrades increasing service, I’m for it.

Next I hope he focuses on delivery of public services, education and high housing costs.

Robert Croghan, Toronto

One thing that I noticed in the Toronto budget coverage is how much lower the tax levied per thousand of assessed value is in Toronto compared to Ottawa.

If the service levels are the same throughout Ontario it must mean that, by various transfers, Toronto is being subsidized by the rest of the province. These include not just the transfers from the provincial and federal governments, but the hidden debt of deferred maintenance.

That the provincial government is now allowing the City to become openly indebted to the rest of the province, it is just another sign of the refusal to control costs.

In fairness, some costs are the result of the high level of immigration, which is under federal purview. As such they should increase amounts paid to the province and the city since they allowed and even encouraged an influx of people the economy cannot absorb quickly. It is effectively a kind of development charge.

If this were enforced I suspect immigration levels would drop quickly.Until the forced amalgamation in 2001 my own suburban city of Nepean was debt free.

Pay as you go, live within your means, and charge the appropriate level of development charges to pay for the needed infrastructure up-front.

It can be done, but will never be done by apparatchiks, union bosses, or by politicians whose self-view is that of generous saviour and protector.

Brian Beckett, Nepean

A lot hiding in the good-news headlines of Tory’s budget, Jan. 21

Perhaps columnist Edward Keenan has never prepared or been responsible for the operation of a budget. His definition of “balanced” would render most budgets as “deficit.”

All budgets make best guess estimates about revenue based on history and projections. City hall must estimate taxes, non-profits must estimate fundraising, automakers must estimate sales, and on and on. So why the big deal that John Tory is counting on 85 million from the province?

A budget is usually submitted long before all the revenues are guaranteed. If revenue is not realized, spending must be reduced during the fiscal year unless the specific sector the budget operates in allows a year–end deficit. The budget is a summary of moving parts that are moved as necessary.

The real world of business informs the decisions. Great budget Mr. Tory.

Mike Faye, Toronto

Toronto could be $200M richer, Opinion Jan. 20

Sheila Block’s suggestions for increasing Toronto’s revenue are interesting. Unfortunately, it appears our new mayor John Tory didn’t get the memo. He continues to channel Rob Ford; better to increase the TTC fare by 10 cents a ride and let car drivers continue to be tax scofflaws.

So John, when you next see me from your warm, comfortable car, now having to walk in the cold, understand the hand signal I’m giving you is a single digit salute and, no John, it is not a thumb.

Peter Pinch, Toronto

I’m thrilled Edward Keenan believes that “the new mayor is willing to change his mind based on the evidence.” Now, will someone please show him the Scarborough subway file?

John Russell, Toronto

Adding 10 cents to regular fares seems reasonable, although I doubt it will reduce traffic and congestion. I also wonder what the total cost to the city of a free ride for youngsters 10 years old and under will be.

There seem to be a great many children on transit, especially on the heavily travelled Yonge line. Has anyone actually calculated how many and how much that reduces any gains made from the 10-cent increase?

Rob Ford’s cancellation of the vehicle tax was a popular vote getter, but it actually cost a driver less than one cup of coffee per week and deprived the city of millions of needed dollars.

Popular or not, taxes are a necessity. Why not charge fees to restrict cars from going downtown unless essential for business (sales, services, delivery) during the day? Clogging and congesting streets in order to leave a car parked all day seems needless.

Shirley Bush, Toronto

John Tory did not run on a promise to teat up the existing decision by three levels of government to build the subway, he ran on implementing it.

Facts that you fail to report, but are important: More people will travel on the subway; the LRT will be at capacity 10 years after completion; the subway provides a much faster and seamless commute; life expectancy is three times longer for the subway; and, most importantly, if we want to get people out of cars and on to public transit we need to provide fast and easy alternatives to cars.

People with no choice will use what ever transit is provided. They have to take the second rate alternative. Car owners will stay with their cars.

So let’s stop re-trying this old debate, and finally get on with building this subway as planned.

Lars Nordgren, Scarborough

If Mayor Tory is serious about his pledge: “I stand in favour of saying to the people of Toronto that we have examined all the facts and done what we need to do to make sure that garbage is being collected in the way that gives people the best service for the least amount of money possible” then we should demand from our new mayor the same consideration with regards to providing the best transit solution to the people of Scarborough.

Politicized beyond reason, this by far, is the more urgent mess that needs cleaning up.

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